Welsh Government

The complainant requested information relating to Powys Fadog and the River Lodge Hotel, Llangollen. Some information was disclosed and other information withheld under sections 36, 40 and 42 and 43. During the Commissioner’s investigation the Welsh Government disclosed some additional information but maintained its reliance on sections 36, 40 and 42. The Welsh Government also introduced its reliance on section 21 of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Welsh Government has correctly withheld some information under sections 21, 36, 40 and 42. The Commissioner has also concluded that some information which the Welsh Government considered falls outside the scope of the request was relevant to the request and should have been considered for disclosure. The Commissioner has also identified a number of procedural matters associated with the handling of the request. The Commissioner requires the public authority to reconsider the information which the Welsh Government has considered out of scope of the request and either disclose the information or issue a valid refusal notice in accordance with section 17 of the FOIA; and disclose the name of the journalist who contacted the Welsh Government about a media enquiry in relation to the River Lodge Hotel.